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Clark Kent
Jun. 16th, 2013 05:41 pmI feel very proprietary about Superman.
I feel very proprietary about Clark Kent.
My formative Superman (my formative Clark Kent) was Christopher Reeve. His movies weren't perfect. But him? He was perfect. That's Superman. End of argument.
I'm not a comic book nerd. I'm not even an indie graphic novels nerd. I've read some great comics, but never comics I would rather buy than movies and never comics I would rather read than books. The only extent to which I can be said to be a comics nerd is that I do take a side in Marvel vs. DC. DC every day. DC has Superman.
I am somehwhat an early animation nerd, and like the Fletcher Superman cartoons as cartoons, but not the Fletcher Superman.
Batman has the best villains. Wonder Woman is the most fun.
It is probably not a good idea to talk to me about Superman. Whatever your opinion, it is likely I will tell you that you're wrong about Superman. And I'm right. I know Superman. Doesn't matter what his history was, or what early incarnations looked like, or what it said in issue so-and-so. I will entertain your ideas about God. I will not entertain your ideas about Superman.
He and I are like this.
Here is the thing about Superman: I know what it's like to be someone with unexpected skills across the board, not just in one area, but in all areas, and to build an identity which is hopefully not intimidating, to such an extent that people can know you for years and not be aware of most of the things you do. I know what it's like to obscure these skills not because you're afraid (you're not), but out of kindness. Out of a belief that you're not particularly better, just different. Different in a way that means you owe something. I know what it means to look at your powers and think: what I need to do with this is be pleasant.
I know what it's like to want more than anything else to save all the people, but not want to rule them.
I know what it's like to leap tall buildings in a single bound and let people assume you were just lucky with elevator timing.
I know Superman because he is the only feminist superhero. Mainly because they did it by accident.
I feel very proprietary about Clark Kent.
My formative Superman (my formative Clark Kent) was Christopher Reeve. His movies weren't perfect. But him? He was perfect. That's Superman. End of argument.
I'm not a comic book nerd. I'm not even an indie graphic novels nerd. I've read some great comics, but never comics I would rather buy than movies and never comics I would rather read than books. The only extent to which I can be said to be a comics nerd is that I do take a side in Marvel vs. DC. DC every day. DC has Superman.
I am somehwhat an early animation nerd, and like the Fletcher Superman cartoons as cartoons, but not the Fletcher Superman.
Batman has the best villains. Wonder Woman is the most fun.
It is probably not a good idea to talk to me about Superman. Whatever your opinion, it is likely I will tell you that you're wrong about Superman. And I'm right. I know Superman. Doesn't matter what his history was, or what early incarnations looked like, or what it said in issue so-and-so. I will entertain your ideas about God. I will not entertain your ideas about Superman.
He and I are like this.
Here is the thing about Superman: I know what it's like to be someone with unexpected skills across the board, not just in one area, but in all areas, and to build an identity which is hopefully not intimidating, to such an extent that people can know you for years and not be aware of most of the things you do. I know what it's like to obscure these skills not because you're afraid (you're not), but out of kindness. Out of a belief that you're not particularly better, just different. Different in a way that means you owe something. I know what it means to look at your powers and think: what I need to do with this is be pleasant.
I know what it's like to want more than anything else to save all the people, but not want to rule them.
I know what it's like to leap tall buildings in a single bound and let people assume you were just lucky with elevator timing.
I know Superman because he is the only feminist superhero. Mainly because they did it by accident.
